the landscape at the moment of death

[Molly Brogan]

I watched my friend Chris Bernard face his eminent death with love, courage and dignity. While participating in this with him, I wondered, what is the state of mind that death requires of us?

What can we bring to it to ease our own suffering at the moment of death? Should we rage against the dying of the light like Dylan Thomas? Should we reach out for spiritual support, ask forgiveness, say farewell? What do YOU think?

[Michael]

The greatest human achievement, in my view, is to give up one's spirit when the time time is right in confidence, joy and love, knowing that you shall be received in the same way.

This is not a requirement, it is the ideal.

We are our own spiritual support.

There is nothing to forgive unless you wish to seek forgiveness from another.

Say farewell, but don't make a drama out of it.

As in any journey, the focus is on where you are going NOW.

[Avni]

Originally Posted by Michael

The greatest human achievement, in my view, is to give up one's spirit when the time time is right in confidence, joy and love, knowing that you shall be received in the same way.

Hello Michael,

There has been much written about the experiences which accompany the transition (death) and for those people who have read these accounts, death may be something to be greeted with much enthusiasm, For some, it will be that much awaited spiritual experience which may have passed them by their entire lives. So, I am not sure whether the anticipation and confidence at death, although certainly desirable, could be regarded as the greatest human achievement.

Avni

[Michael]

You cite other people's experiences. They will not be there when you die.

You must ask yourself what is your best case scenario (to couch it in modern language).

And what would you consider the greatest human achievement - compassion, creating fire, numbers, splitting the atom, love? What of all the deeds , conceptions and moralities will you have as you die? None but your own. You will not be thinking about TBV. That is the time of letting go.

[Michael]

My apologies, Avni. Welcome. Thank you for your contribution.

[jufa]

No one here knows about death. All that anyone here knows about is life. If I am wrong, then someone tell me what death looks like before ones dies, and what is the appearance of death beyond the flesh body?

I am not talking about how the body does or does not look when one is dying from a disease, for death takes the babies, the youth, the healthy, so death appears upon all stages of life, and being it is death, it appearance cannot be identified. So one does not know what the landscape of death is.

[schrodinger]

Originally Posted by jufa

No one here knows about death. So one does not know what the landscape of death is.

How can you speak for everyone else? In any case, you are wrong!

[Michael]

Ah yes.Schrodinger, the old Zen trick of the bamboo pole crisply down upon the head to let in some light! I'm sure Jafa is a lot wiser after that. In any case, you are right! Indeed, how can he speak for anyone else? In which case...?

[schrodinger]

Originally Posted by Michael

Ah yes.Schrodinger, the old Zen trick of the bamboo pole crisply down upon the head to let in some light! I'm sure Jafa is a lot wiser after that. In any case, you are right! Indeed, how can he speak for anyone else? In which case...?

I only speak for myself, Michael and never make assumptions about what you or Jufa or anyone else knows. I ask questions!

[Michael]

To state that someone else is wrong is not to speak for yourself.
I think what you are trying to say is that in stating he is wrong you are speaking of - out of - yourself, and therefore saying that in your subjective experience, as distinct from belief, Jufa is wrong. Which is also, in my subjective experience, true.